1,499 locations approved for new colleges in Maharashtra

As many as 1,499 locations were approved to start new colleges in Maharashtra in the next five years, while the Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development (MAHED) has approved the five-year (2024-29) perspective plan for non-agricultural universities in the state.

In a meeting headed by the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, it was stated that there were a total of 1,537 proposed sites in the five-year plan for 2024-29, after all non-agricultural universities across the state submitted their proposals. Following a discussion at the meeting on Wednesday, 1,499 locations were identified and approved. Now proposals will be accepted for educational institutions wanting to start educational institutions in those locations.

The meeting held at the Sahyadri Guest House was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Assembly Opposition Leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha and senior officers from  the education department.

The meeting also directed to take action per the provisions of the Act against colleges which have yet not started the process of acquiring National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grades. Earlier this year, the state’s higher and technical education department had issued an ultimatum for colleges to get accredited.